VOCAT applications and the Financial Assistance Scheme

Payment for outstanding expenses from VOCAT

Your VOCAT award may include expenses which you have not claimed yet. These are known as authorised future expenses and can be paid once a receipt or invoice for the expense is provided.

From 18 November 2024, you can request payment for these expenses from the FAS.

How to apply to the FAS for payment of VOCAT authorised future expenses

You will need to complete an application to transition your VOCAT award to the FAS through the FAS online portal to claim authorised future expenses from your interim or final VOCAT award.

Once your transition application is complete and registration is confirmed, the FAS can provide funding to you for a service provider, or to your service provider directly. You can submit your invoices, receipts and service provider details in the FAS online portal or your service provider can request payment directly from the FAS using the service provider payment request form. See Resources for service providers and receiving payment for further information on service provider payments.

If you do not have outstanding authorised future expenses from your VOCAT interim award, you do not need to complete an application to transition your VOCAT award to the FAS. You can make a new application to the FAS through the FAS online portal.

Follow our online guide

Transition your VOCAT application to the FAS by following our online step-by-step guide.

View the guide

Making changes to your award

You can make a new change to your VOCAT award by applying to FAS. This is called a variation application.

If you have already submitted a variation application to VOCAT before 18 November 2024, VOCAT will process your application. VOCAT will not accept any new variation applications. All new variation applications must be decided by the FAS.

Changes that are consistent with the original award are called minor variations. They include seeking more of the same type of treatment, such as additional counselling sessions. You can request as many minor changes as you need.

If you need to request a new type of assistance, this is called a substantive variation. You can only request one substantive variation.

Substantive variations include:

• a new type of expense, such as requesting financial help for safety-related expenses when your original application only covered medical expenses
• changing the type of assistance, such as requested medical expenses for physiotherapy instead of dental surgery.

See the FAS guidelines for more information on applying to vary a VOCAT award.

Evidence you will need

For the FAS to vary a VOCAT award, you will need to provide evidence to show:

• you have fresh evidence or your circumstances have changed, and
• explain what further assistance you require and how it will help you recover.

See the FAS guidelines for more information on applying to vary a VOCAT award.

Time limits for variations

If you were 18 years or older when VOCAT made your final award, you have 6 years from when you received your final VOCAT award to apply for a variation.

If you were under 18 years old when VOCAT made your final award, you have until you are 24 years old to apply for a variation.

How to apply

1. Transition your VOCAT award to FAS using the FAS online portal.
2. Download and complete the VOCAT variation application form (see below).
3. Follow the instructions on the form to submit your request.

Both minor and substantive changes can be made through the VOCAT variation form.

Still need help?

You can also contact the FAS Helpline on 1800 161 136 between 8:30am – 5:30pm Monday to Friday (except public holidays) for information on how to apply for a variation.